"Posy rings were popular from the late Middle Ages through the 18th century, often given to loved ones at betrothals and weddings. While most posy rings were gifts between lovers or spouses, they were also meaningful tokens of friendship and faithfulness of a non-romantic type. Their name is a reference to poesy, not a small bunch of flowers, because of the inscriptions on the interior surface that were declarations of love and loyalty."
"The recently-discovered posy ring is decorated on the outside face with a geometric relief that is deep enough it may have originally been filled with enamel. The interior surface is inscribed YOVR . FRENDE . IN . DEEDE. No inscription with this wording has been found before, and there are thousands documented. The separation between in and deed suggests the giver wanted the recipient to know he would prove himself loyal in actions, not just words."
Posy rings were popular from the late Middle Ages through the 18th century and were often exchanged at betrothals and weddings or given as tokens of friendship and faithfulness. The found 16th-century gold posy ring is decorated with a geometric relief possibly originally filled with enamel and bears the interior inscription YOVR . FRENDE . IN . DEEDE. The unusual wording emphasizes loyalty proven by actions rather than words. The ring was discovered beside the moat of Bushwood Hall in Lapworth, the Catesby family seat where Robert Catesby was born. Catholics faced persecution under Elizabeth I and often practiced their faith in secret.
Read at www.thehistoryblog.com
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